Daily Republican., 1887-03-14

a GRAVE PROBLen.

sunset Cox once said that create
and . grsver problem than that O
taxes and finances was sure to arise /,
the future, and future not very IA
Oh, and II Is question that touches
the vital spot In our form of govern
Eent. This Is the question Of sppor
uonment. The apportionment upon
which the present House of Repre-.
sentatives is based is the work mainly
OF Mr.. Cox, and he spent many weeks
In most assiduous labor in preparing
the bill. 1t looks very easy, but it Is
not. All you have got to do Is TO de-
eide how many people shall be emit.
tied 10 representative, and then di.
vide the total population of each
State by this figure. That will give
the number of Representatives each
State Is entitled to. But the trouble
Is to TX the ratio. 1t Is a growing
trouble, and 1t is going to be very
difficult. Mr.. Cox Indeed is disposed
to think that II may become very
dangerous trouble, and due to the fact
that some time or other, not many
generations hence, the population Of
the United States will be numbered
among the 100, 900, 900. There won't
be any trouble about raising crops
enough to feed 1000, OOO, 600 in this
country. The whole population, 3d.
100000 by the census of 1880, might
he placed in the State of Texas and
not be crowded any more than the
people OF Great Britain are crowded
But when our population passes 10O,-
DOC, 600 one OF tive things must hap
pen.
Either the number of the members
OF the House of Representatives must
be increased to an absurdly large
figure, or the smaller States and those
whose population shows the least per.
centage OF increase must see their rep
resentation In the house constantly
dwindling away. Mr.. Cox, In 1880,
was obliged 10 cut down the number
of representatives in Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maryland. Nevada
wouldn't have had any representative
but for the constitutional provision
guaranteeing each State one, and II
the ratio had been few thousands
larger Delaware would, but for the
constitution, have lost its single repre-
sentative.
Mr.. Cox's first idea was 10 fix the
number upon which representation Is
based at larger figure than that
adopted, but the rebellious protests
from States which would thereby lose
q representative or two were so great
that he did not do 1t. Yet it is found
thar the present membership of the
house, 325, is too large, both for con-
venience and for efficiency in trans
acting business Motions have already
been made to remove the desks and
seat the members, as in the English
parliament, on benches. If at the
next apportionment, which follows
the census taken three years hence,
the number of representatives is in
creased, Congress will be obliged
either TO enlarge the present chamber
of the house or huddle the members
together on benches.
Mr.. Cox is inclined to think that
there will be needed In the Congress
that follows that census the highest
qualities Of prudence and statesman
ship, In order to prepare an apportion
ment bill that will stand the least
chance of becoming law. One thing
is certain-it the present ratio is re-
tanned the house will number between
400 and 500 members; while, on the
other hand, if the number which
makes the basis is increased many of
the older States will lose representa-
tives; to only one or two will be allot
ted any increased number, while the
new States in the Mississippi valley
will in any event have greatly in
creased representation. 1t is esti.
mated that the population in 1890 will
be found to be between 6j ZOO, 900 and
6S,000, 900, a greater number than any
republic ever had, greater number
than any limited or constitutional
monarchy now has. At least 70 per
cent. OF this increase will be found be-
yond the Mississippi and 90 per cent.
of it beyond the Alleghenies.
Ii, then, it be decided that no State
is to lose its present number of repre-
sentatives, the number of members in
the next House will be 450 (approxi.
mately). New York, Massachusetts
and Pennsylvania would gain-New
York two, probably, the other two
States one, possibly; but it is probable
that not another State east of the Allie
ghenies, with the possible exception of
Georgia, would gain a single one of
the 1875 new members. Nor would
there be any great gains in any of the
States east OF the Mississippi. 1t is
probable that from 90 to 100 of these
new members would be apportoned
to the great States west of the Missis-
sippi Texas would press New
York very hard as the State
having the largest representation
Kansas, Nebrast a, Missouri, Iowa,
Minnesota and Dakota, If admitted,
would gain an increased representa-
ton of from 40 to go per cent, and
Oregon, California ard Washington, il
it is admitted, would rival many of the
older States In the number of tn cir
representatives.
But it will be difficult to induce any
Congress to pass an apportionment
bill fixing the number of new mem
bers at larger figure than $50.
Should that number be selected it
would fix the ratio of representation
approximately at one for each 1876, 600
of population. This would certainly
very greatly reduce the representation
of the older States, and, if the number
OF members be kept at the present fig
ure (325l, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Florida and Nevada
would be represented by only one
member each; Maine, Connecticut,
Maryland by three; and l. is doubtful
if single State east of the Alleghenies